Spooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Unitary apparatus for precisely winding wirelike material from a large payoff reel to a takeup spool having an arrangement of operating elements and control circuits to enable a battery of these units to be operated by a single operator. The arrangement of elements permits of a treating means such as cleaning being interposed between the payoff reel and takeup spool.

United States Patent Edward E. Laird 18 Pine Orchard Road. Brandord. Conn. 06405 [21] Appl. No. 791,585

[22] Filed Jan. 16,1969

[45] Patented May 18, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] SPOOLING APPARATUS 11 Claims, llDrawingFigs. [52] U.S.Cl. 242/25 [51] lnLCl. ...B65h54/00 [50] FieldotSear-dn 242/25,25 (A) [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,779,545 1/1957 Hauck et al 242/25A 2,868,467 1/1959 Lewis 242/25 Primary Examiner-Nathan L. Mintz AttomeyRoy L. Parsell ABSTRACT: Unitary apparatus for precisely winding wirelike material from a large payoff reel to a takeup spool having an arrangement of operating elements and control circuits to enable a battery of these units to be operated by a single operator. The arrangement of elements permits of a treating means such as cleaning being interposed between the payoff reel and takeup spool.

PATENTED m1 8|97l sum 1 OF 5 INVENTOR.

# 9 Edward F. [001/ Q9 A FM PATENTEUHAYIBIQYI 3578794 I I sum 2 or s INVENTQR. Edward 5'. Zauv? BY R9717 M E IN VENTOR. I I [Zia/an? 5. 50 NZ PATENTEU MAY 1 8 I97! SHEET 5 OF 5 7'0 MAKE JITTORIVF K SIPGOILING APP'I'US This invention relates to apparatus for spooling wirelike material and in particular to spooling of metal wire.

Material in the form of wirelike material is being increasingly used in industry because of its convenience in handling such as its ability to be produced by continuous processes and its use in subsequent manufacture where again continuous process is advantageous.

When wound in coils, on reels and spools, it becomes easy to transport, to store, and at point of use to draw off as needed.

The process of manufacturing metal wire in particular includes, generally, a rough formation from billets into large heavy coils contained on large reels weighing several hundred pounds. For manufacturing purposes portions of the wire contained in the reels are drawn off on spools. These spools contain smaller quantities and are convenient to distribute to the manufacturing centers for fabricating into various articles of manufacture.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to transfer portions of the mass product in the form of reels into the finished product, namely, spool formation.

Another object is to provide apparatus for properly winding wire material onto smaller spools.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for winding wire material onto a spool which material has been allowed to pass through a treating operation as for example cleaning, painting, or coating after the wire material is payed ofi from the first reel.

It is another object to provide a spooling apparatus which can be conveniently attended and controlled by an operator so that a number of spooling units may be operated by a single person.

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus which can be precisely regulated as to speed, tension, and amount of wire spooled regardless of the length or diameter of the wire or its physical structure.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a double-head spooler unit used in combination with a cleaning unit;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the double payoff" unit portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in part in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the spooler or takeup unit portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an elevation showing a portion of the unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic enlarged section of the spool as mounted on the spooler drive head;

FIG. I0 is a diagram of the control panel; and

FIG. ll is a wiring diagram showing the important circuits.

Referring now to the drawings (FIGS. I and Z), numeral l0 denotes the spooler head unit and I0 a duplicate unit mounted on the same foundation base. In practice it is commonly referred to as the talteup unit.

Numerals 30 and 3d refer to the respective reel or payoff units which also may be mounted on a common base.

Numeral d0 (FIGS. 1 and 2) refersto a treating unit an example of which in this case may be a cleaning unit comprising a tank ll for holding a cleaning solution, a first drying finish dry chamber d3 and out over an exit or first guide sheave to a second or spooler guide sheave 12 on spooler guide sheave axle l3 at spooler unit lltlto be wound up on spool I I.

The spool Ill on which wire 50 is wound is shown schematically in an enlarged section in FIG. 9. It is mounted between a driving faceplate Ml and a tail plate I6- Tail plate 116 is mounted on tail shaft lea which is slidably moved by hand lever lob for inserting and removing the spool ll.

Face plate lid is mounted on drive shaft 17 connected to an electrically controlled brake Id and clutch 19. The brake l3 and clutch 119 are preferably combined in a single unit CB (FIGS. d and 7 with clutch shaft Wu extending from the unit CB to receive a drive pulley 21. A variable speed driving motor 52 is connected to clutch pulley 21 by a belt Zla.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the wire 50 is guided on to the spool ll by guide sheave I2 which oscillates along guide sheave axle 13 as the layers of wire 50 seat themselves (see FIG. 9) on the hub Ila of spool ll during the first layer and between the next layers as clearly shown in FIG. 9. To enable the proper aligning of the respective turns of wire in the layers, the tension must be properly regulated as will be described later and the distance between the guide sheave l2 and the exit first guide sheave db (FIG. 2) must be carefully maintained; otherwise it would be necessary to providean indexing arrangement for the spooler guide sheave I2. This critical distance y varies from 20 to 22 feet for metal wire varying in diameter from 0.028 inches to 0.093 inches. The larger the diameter of wire the less the distance y between first guide sheave 46 and the second or spooler guide sheave 112.

The wire 50 is supplied in large reels 31 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5) from which it is payed off" by being drawn by the spooler unit Ill and in particular the rotation of the spool I1.

Referring again to FIGS. 3, d, and 5, reel 31 loaded with wire 50 is mounted between payoff drive shaft 32 and payoff tail shaft 33. Tail shaft 33 is slidably by means of hand lever 33a to enable reel 31! to be mounted and dismounted. Reel 31 is connected in detachable driving relationship with drive shaft 32 to be subsequently described. A rotating tension device 35 preferably a Vickers electric tensioning apparatus in which the speed of an armature rotating in a magnetic field is controlled by varying the strength of the magnetic field to be described later in detail. The armature shaft 350 is connected to the payoff drive shaft 32 by means of a nonslip timing belt 36 running on suitable pulleys mounted on the respective shafts 32 and 35:: (FIG. 3) of the Vickers tensioner 35 and payoff drive shaft 32. When the field of the Vickers tensioner is not electrically energized the payoff drive shaft 32 is of mounted axially with shaft 32 and by belt 36a to an electroclutch 37 mounted on a speed reducing driving unit 55.

The speed-reducing unit is driven by constant speed motor 53. The need for the brake 38 will be obvious with a full reel that a substantial mass is involved which must be stopped before a rewind can take place.

It will be noted that the payoff unit is also arranged as a dual unit each of which is controlled separately except that a common motor can be used to drive the speed reducer from which separate clutches control the respective payoff reel shafts.

Companion lugs and recesses on reel shaft drive plate and reel enwge themselves when the reel 311 is placed in position and centered by lever 4. 7 so that a driving connection is made for either direction of rotation of reel shaft 32.

In another embodiment of my invention 1 may not use a treating unit d0 but wind the wire from the reel 31 to the talteup unit. In this case it will be necessary to locate the exit first guide sheave d6 the necessary distance y from the spooler guide sheave 112 to insure proper indexing of the layers as previously described. In this case the wire 50 will lead from reel 3i directly to first guide sheave 46 and thence to spooler guide sheave I2.

Referring now to FIG. 11 the electrical power source is designated by numeral 54 from which source the motors 52 and 53 derive their power for driving the mechanical elements of this invention subject to the electrical controls now to be described.

Control switching means is mounted on console panel 51 FIG. 10.

Numeral 52 denotes the variable speed motor which drives the takeup head unit and numeral 53 a constant speed motor which drives the payoff speed-reducing means 55 and clutch 37 previously mentioned for rewinding the wire 50 on reel 31.

Run speed potentiometer 57 mounted on panel 51 controls the desired speed of motor 52 for the winding on spool 11.

Still referring to H6. 11, a latch relay 58 in circuit with reset button switch 59 and power source 54 energizes coil 60 in latch relay 58 upon momentary contact of reset button 59. Armature 61 moves upwardly to close upper contacts 62 and to permit spring latch member 63 to retain the armature 61 in its uppermost position and at the same time breaking lower contacts 64 for reasons to be later explained.

The closing of upper contacts 62 energizes the takeup operation circuits comprising the field 56 of takeup clutch 19 and field 35a of Vickers tension motor 35 which circuits will be described in more detail later.

The closing of stop button switch 65 unlatches latch relay 58 by energizing unlatching coil 49 to trip latch member 63. Armature 61 then drops opening contacts 62 and closing contacts 64 so that the previously energized takeup circuits are deenergized and the payoff circuits are energized. ln summary, the payoff circuits include those circuits for energizing the two brakes (pay off 38 and takeup 18) and the rewind or reverse" clutch 37.

The numeral 72 denotes the brake field for the takeup brake 18 and numeral 63 denotes the field of payoff brake 33. Potentiometer 77 regulates the force of the braking power exerted by the brake fields 72 and 68 respectively.

Numeral 69 denotes the field of the payoff clutch to be used in rewinding the reel 31.

The brake circuits just described are energized by time delay switch 71 for a limited period of time and at the end of this time interval are deenergized and then the reverse" clutch circuit of the payoff unit is energized. This time delay switch 71 is schematically shown in F10.

The coil 85 of the time delay switch 71 is energized through the completion of circuit through the lower contacts 64 of the latching relay 61 which cause armature 843 to rise from the contact position (shown in dotted lines) after a predetermined delay of approximately 0-15 seconds. This delay is to permit the take up brake 18 and payoff brake 38 to function by energizing their field coils 72 and 68 respectively and to prevent reverse switch 67 from being effective until the brakes l8 and 38 are released.

With the armature 84 in its upper position engaging contacts 82 and contacts 81 reverse switch 67 can now function to effect the winding up of wire 50 on payoff reel 31. The payoff reel 31 will continue to run as long as reverse switch 67 is closed.

To wind the wire 50 again on take up spool 11, reset button 59 must be again pressed to activate latch relay 58 to energize the take up circuits.

Potentiometer 57 controls the running speed of the takeup (spooler) motor.

Potentiometer 75 controls the drag speed of the Vickers or back tension.

Numeral 70 denotes signal light.

Potentiometer 76 controls the takeup clutch 56.

Potentiometer 77 controls both brakes.

Numeral 73 denotes rectifiers in circuit with power source for energizing the respective DC fields of takeup clutch 56, back tension Vickers 35, payoff brake 68, takeup brake 72,

pay off reverse clutch 69.

'Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the score of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim: 11

l. in a spooling apparatus for winding wirelike material from a payofi" reel to a takeup spool comprising a payoff reel shaft; means operatively connecting said payoff reel shaft to the payoff reel; a takeup spool shaft; means operatively connecting said takeup spool shaft to the takeup spool; a spool guide sheave; a first guide sheave; takeup power source rotating means for driving said takeup shaft; payoff power source rotating means for driving said payoff shaft; tension braking means connected with said payoff shaft; to variably retard the rotation of said payoff shaft to apply tension to the material as it is unwound from the payoff reel; braking means associated with said shafts to simultaneously stop rotation of said shafts when desired; takeup clutch means connecting said takeup shaft and said takeup power source rotating means; and payoff clutch means connecting said payoff shaft and said payoff power source rotating means.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1, said tension braking means having a rotating armature member in an electric field; said armature member connected to said payoff shaft in driving relation and means for varying the strength of said field.

3. In the apparatus of claim 1, said spool guide sheave rotatably and slidably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of said spool; said mounting in such proximity to the axis of the spool that the outside grooves formed between successive adjacent abutting convolutions of the material on the spool act as guide means for oscillating said spool guide sheave on its axis as the material is accumulated on the spool.

4. in the apparatus of claim 3, the minimum spacing distance of said first guide sheave from said spool guide sheave being such that the force components parallel to the axis of said spool guide sheave of the tension force in the material engaging said spool guide sheave while being wound will not prevent said oscillation of said spool guide sheave.

5. in the apparatus of claim 4, said spacing distance is not less than 20 feet for metal wire material having a diameter of from 0.07.8 to 0.093 inches.

6. in a wire material spoofing apparatus for winding the material from a payoff reel on to a takeup spool having circuit means connected with a power source circuit for energizing the apparatus control and driving motor circuits comprising in combiaation a relay circuit means having a power source circuit; said relay circuit means having a first state and an alternate second state energizing respective circuits therein from the power source circuit; said first state having a takeup clutch circuit means and a tension-regulating circuit means; said second state having a plurality of brake circuits means and a payoff clutch circuit means; a run circuit means having a power source circuit means setting said relay circuit means to said first state; and a rewind circuit means having a power source circuit means setting said relay circuit means to said second state.

7. in the device of claim 6, said second state having a. time delay circuit means in circuit with said brake circuits means and said payoff clutch circuit means for maintaining said payoff clutch circuit means in a deenergized state for a predetermined time period while said brake circuits means are energized and then when said period terminates deenergizing said brake circuits means and energizing said payoff clutch circuit means.

8. In the device of claim 6, said tension regulating circuit means having a field circuit means for retarding a rotating memmr in driving engagement with the payoff reel and means for varying the strength of said field circuit.

9. In the device of claim 6. said payoff clutch circuit means having switch contact means for opening and closing said payoff clutch circuit means when desired.

10. In the device of claim 6, said takeup clutch circuit means having a magnetic clutch circuit means whereby the takeup spool is connected in driven source.

engagement with a driving 

1. In a spooling apparatus for winding wirelike material from a payoff reel to a takeup spool comprising a payoff reel shaft; means operatively connecting said payoff reel shaft to the payoff reel; a takeup spool shaft; means operatively connecting said takeup spool shaft to the takeup spool; a spool guide sheave; a first guide sheave; takeup power source rotating means for driving said takeup shaft; payoff power source rotating means for driving said payoff shaft; tension braking means connected with said payoff shaft; to variably retard the rotation of said payoff shaft to apply tension to the material as it is unwound from the payoff reel; braking means associated with said shafts to simultaneously stop rotation of said shafts when desired; takeup clutch means connecting said takeup shaft and said takeup power source rotating means; and payoff clutch means connecting said payoff shaft and said payoff power source rotating means.
 2. In the apparatus of claim 1, said tension braking means having a rotating armature member in an electric field; said armature member connected to said payoff shaft in driving relation and means for varying the strength of said field.
 3. In the apparatus of claim 1, said spool guide sheave rotatably and slidably mounted on an axis parallel to the axis of said spool; said mounting in such proximity to the axis of the spool that the outside grooves formed between successive adjacent abutting convolutions of the material on the spool act as guide means for oscillating said spool guide sheave on its axis as the material is accumulated on the spool.
 4. In the apparatus of claim 3, the minimum spacing distance of said first guide sheave from said spool guide sheave being such that the force components parallel to the axis of said spool guide sheave of the tension force in the material engaging said spool guide sheave while being wound will not prevent said oscillation of said spool guide sheave.
 5. In the apparatus of claim 4, said spacing distance is not less than 20 feet for metal wire material having a diameter of from 0.028 to 0.093 inches.
 6. In a wire material spooling apparatus for winding the material from a payoff reel on to a takeup spool having circuit means connected with a power source circuit for energizing the apparatus control and driving motor circuits comprising in combination a relay circuit means having a power source circuit; said relay circuit means having a first state and an alternate second state energizing respective circuits therein from the power source circuit; said first state having a takeup clutch circuit means and a tension-regulating circuit means; said second state having a plurality of brake circuits means and a payoff clutch circuit means; a run circuit means having a power source circuit means setting said relay circuit meaNs to said first state; and a rewind circuit means having a power source circuit means setting said relay circuit means to said second state.
 7. In the device of claim 6, said second state having a time delay circuit means in circuit with said brake circuits means and said payoff clutch circuit means for maintaining said payoff clutch circuit means in a deenergized state for a predetermined time period while said brake circuits means are energized and then when said period terminates deenergizing said brake circuits means and energizing said payoff clutch circuit means.
 8. In the device of claim 6, said tension regulating circuit means having a field circuit means for retarding a rotating member in driving engagement with the payoff reel and means for varying the strength of said field circuit.
 9. In the device of claim 6, said payoff clutch circuit means having switch contact means for opening and closing said payoff clutch circuit means when desired.
 10. In the device of claim 6, said takeup clutch circuit means having a magnetic clutch circuit means whereby the takeup spool is connected in driven engagement with a driving source.
 11. In the device of claim 6, said payoff clutch circuit means having magnetic clutch circuit means whereby the payoff reel is connected in driving engagement with a driving source. 